Wire gripping clamp



1952 A; G. MAASDAM 2,607,095

WIRE GRIPPING CLAMP Original Filed Jan. 28. 1947 INVENTOR. ABRAHAM s. MAASDAM ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 19, 1952 PATENT: OFFICE WIRE-GRIPPING CLAMP Abraham G. Maasdam, Steamboat Springs, 0010.

Original application January 28, 1947, Serial No. 724,878, now Patent No. 2,506,029, dated May 2, 1950. Divided and this application April 21, 1950, Serial No. 157,363

1 Claim. (Cl. 24134) This invention relates to pulling devices and more particularly to improvements in a clamp device for use with a pulling device, the clamp device being a division of my copending applica tion, Serial No. 724,878, filed January 28, 1947, now Patent Number 2,506,029 granted -May 2, 1950.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved clamp for engagement with a cable or the like and which includes a clamping cam and means whereby direct pull is imposed upon the cam for making the same effective during the time the strain is imposed on the pulling cable.

Other objects, advantages, and salient features will become apparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the clamp showing one manner of use in the hand of a user;

Figure 2 is an end elevation in the direction of arrow 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3--3, Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan as viewed in the direction of arrow 4, Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the clamp comprises an elongated substantially flat plate I!) having a flange l i projected from one edge of the plate, this flange having a curved surface l2 near one end, forming a fixed jaw, and a flange l 3 near its other end projecting inwardly parallel with the plate.

A cam device I 4, having teeth l5 at one end thereof, is pivotally connected to the plate by a pin [6 and is provided with a curved end I! at its other end, the teeth being adapted to move to a position where they are juxtaposed to surface I2 with a wire, such as barbed wire, Ill between the teeth and said surface.

A flange l9 projects from the other edge of plate II! in the same direction as flange II and is provided with a portion 20 projecting rearwardly (that is, to the left in Figure 1) of the rear edge 2| of plate It]. A flange 22, formed integral with plate l0 and flange I9, extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the clamp and is provided with an aperture 23. A rod 24, loosely fitting within aperature 23, is provided with an oflset end 25 which is operatively connected to the cam device 14 between the ends thereof, so that longitudinal movement of the rod relative to the plate swings the teeth on the working edge of the cam device into engagement with the wire l8. An eye or loop 26 is provided on the other end of the rod to effect connection of the rod to any type of pulling device, such as the one disclosed in the identified copending application.

While the device may be manipulated as desired, I prefer to employ it as depicted in Figure 1 wherein it is grasped by the fingers as shown and the curved end I1 is moved to the left by the thumb of the hand to engage the cam device on the wire. It will be observed that flange ll protects the other four fingers from contact with the Wire. The inwardly projecting flange l3 serves a dual purpose in that it provides a gripping surface for the little finger and the adjacent finger, if desired, and also serves as a member to aid in applying the clamp to the wire. In the latter, fiange I3 is hooked over the Wire and the device is then moved relative to the wire so that it will be disposed between the stationary jaw and cam device, after which the latter is moved by the thumb, as previously described. It will be noted that rearwardly projecting portion 20 terminates at a point adjacent the juncture of the hand and wrist so that the palm of the hand is completely protected from contact by the wire and also from accidental contact with tension member 24.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:

A strand engaging clamp for use with a pulling device, comprising; a plate, an elongated substantially straight flange extending laterally of the plate along one side edge thereof, substantially between the ends of the plate, said flange having a concave inner surface adjacent its forward end adapted to form a fixed jaw for engaging the strand, said portion and the remainder of the flange forming aflnger engaging guard adapted to protect fingers of a users hand disposed on the outside surface of the flange from contact with a strand disposed adjacent the inside surface thereof, a clamping cam device pivotally mounted to the plate having a portion adapted to cooperate with the fixed jaw and engage the strand, said cam device including an arm having a portion projecting beyond the opposite side edge of the plate adapted to be engaged by the thumb of the user to swing the cam device, a tension member disposed longitudinally of the plate having its forward end pivotally connected to the arm between its ends, guide means on the plate for guiding an intermediate portion of the tension member for movement in a longitudinal direction relative to the plate, means on the rear end of the tension member adapted to secure it to a pulling device, and a second elongated flange extending laterally of the plate N r along its opposite side edge and rearwardly from 3 the projecting portion of said arm and outside of 399,053 the tension member, both flanges extending from 5 544,724 the same side of the plate. 74,708 ABRAHAM G. MAASDAM. 702,543

1,044,829 REFERENCES CITED 1,271,294

The following references are of record in the 10 1,449,945 file of this patent: 1,805,845

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lange Oct. 2, 1883 Landee Mar. 5, 1889 Cotton et a1 Aug. 20, 1895 Noble May 21, 1901 Hand June 17, 1902 Swortflger Nov. 19, 1912 Duigan July 2, 1918 Jacobsen Mar. 27, 1923 Orr May 19, 1931 

